Page 39 of Dublin Devil

A knot tightens in the pit of my stomach, but I refuse to let it take hold. I stuff my phone back into the rice and leave the box on the counter. There’s no one I want to speak to right now, anyway. “I appreciate that. Thanks.”

Brendan twists around from where he’s working at the counter to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, Piper. But if it’s any consolation, Laine looked at the contract and said that other than what it might mean to the Bratva, there’s nothing to it. You’re not tied to those bearded fuckers in any way.”

I blink, not sure what to say about that.

Brendan must read something in my expression because he frowns. “What? You should be happy about that, shouldn’t you?”

“I am. It’s a relief to hear, but it’s awkward that all of you know about it. Howdoyou all know?”

Brendan sets a turkey sandwich stacked high with meat in front of me and sets another one out for Bryan. “Well, without getting into specifics, we had a conversation with Vlad and Arkady last night.”

“You did?”

Bryan nods and grabs three glasses from the cupboard. “Aye, we did. Tag made it clear to them that your father has no right to be making gun deals. Guns are our territory, and the McGuires importing would nullify our truce and create a direct power war.”

I pick a slice of turkey free and eat it. “I never wanted that. So, will Tag fix it?”

Bryan swallows a large bite of his sandwich and shrugs. “He asked what the details of the deal were so he could find a solution.”

“And what details did you find out, other than them getting me as a plaything?”

Brendan frowns. “Tag was hoping your father was only looking for a one-time shipment. If that were the case, he’d just buy the guns and be done with them.”

“But that wasn’t the case?”

“No. Apparently, your father was brokering an ongoing import of weapons through Galway and into Dublin. Now Tag has to figure out how to keep the Russians happy and not end up in bed with the Bratva.”

“What was Mattie even thinking bringing the Russians into Dublin?” Bryan asks.

Brendan sets a hot pad down in the center of the table and then a steaming pot on top of that. “Russians are bad news. We don’t want them anywhere near our citizens.”

I take a bite of my sandwich. “That’s the difference, though, right? My father doesn’t care about Dublin or its citizens. He cares about McGuire power and money.”

Brendan grabs a ladle and then starts dishing out bowls of Campbell’s chicken and rice soup. “It’s only from a can, but it’ll heal what ails you.”

Bryan chuckles. “Chicken soup is for healing colds, not bones and bruises, dumbass.”

Brendan shrugs. “Show me the studies where it says I’m wrong.”

Bryan laughs. “Like you’ve ever read a study in your life. Now you’re just showing off for Piper.”

Brendan hands me a spoon and winks. “Is it working? I’m known to be pretty charming.”

I laugh. “I thought Finn was the Dublin Charmer.”

Bryan barks a laugh. “She’s got you there, brother.”

The three of us continue to share our lunch and I can’t help wondering why I couldn’t have been born into a mafia family like the Quinns instead of the McGuires. They actually seem to care about one another.

Wouldn’t that have been novel?

Sean

When I arrive at the docks, I back my bike up to fall in line with Kieran’s Road King Special and the other eight bikes beyond that. It’s a sight that never gets old. There’s nothing sexier than a row of Harleys and knowing that they belong to my MC and are ridden by my army.

Except maybe Piper shattering on my cock.

That was pretty fucking unforgettable.

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